Chelsea: Double Red Card and Gifts to Brighton, Maresca Frustrated

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca urged his team to stop “gifting matches” after suffering a second red card in as many games, resulting in a 3-1 defeat to Brighton in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea took the lead thanks to Enzo Fernández’s goal in the first half, but Trevoh Chalobah’s expulsion for a harsh tackle on Diego Gómez changed the course of the match. Maxim De Cuyper’s header put Brighton ahead in added time, surprising the home team. Danny Welbeck added a third goal, sealing Brighton’s victory. Maresca, after the match, regretted his team’s mistakes.

The message in the locker room was clear. Against any team in the Premier League you can’t keep giving away matches. We are giving away matches. The red card is a big mistake because the game changed completely.

Enzo Maresca

Chelsea started the match promisingly, and Fernández’s goal seemed deserved. However, Chalobah’s expulsion altered the development of the game. Brighton’s coach, Fabian Hürzeler, highlighted his team’s ability to recover and achieve victory. Chelsea’s match was marked by an inability to adapt to changing circumstances, something that had already cost them the previous week.

Trevoh Chalobah, sent off in the match. Chelsea were outplayed by Brighton’s reaction, who took their chances to take the victory. Maresca emphasized the need to avoid mistakes that change the course of matches, referring to the red cards suffered in the last matches. Hürzeler, for his part, highlighted his team’s resilience.

They dominated until the goal. After that, we were much better in possession. After the goal, I had very good feelings.

Fabian Hürzeler

The Brighton coach also commented on the importance of remaining calm and focused, even with a numerical advantage.